"Melissa Walker surprises with her duck-out-of-water Cinderella story, VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY."

Violet Greenfield is tall, some would say freakishly tall.
So tall in fact that everyone at Chapel Hill High School
refers to her as the Jolly Green Giant, or at least they do
in her mind. To Violet, that horrifying nickname follows
her all the way to the beginning of her senior year. She is
so stunted by her own awkward height, that she can't even
bring herself to don her new "trendy" first-day-of-school
outfit, which could possibly launch her into the school's
social stratosphere. The only thing keeping her from
skipping the first day of school all together is the
business card from a Tryst Modeling Agency agent snuggly
tucked away in her extra-long jeans pocket. This really
could be the first day of the rest of her life, if only she
could work up the strength to tell her parents that she
wants to fly to New York for Fashion Week go-sees with her
new agent Angela.

VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY is a deliciously bright debut from
former magazine editor Melissa Walker. It's so much fun to
watch the ugly duckling Violet turn from a "giraffe on
roller skates" to the empowered top model with a heart.
Although the language is mature for a young adult novel,
Walker flits in and out of high school life and high fashion
living with ease and poise. She makes even the most jaded
characters likeable and more importantly redeemable. We
perk up when photographers and stylists tear down Violet's
self-esteem, because we know that she can handle the
scrutiny and can keep herself grounded. She will use her
growth as a model to change how she views herself, and how
people treat her. Ultimately, Violet's model
transformation mirrors the reader's own image
transformationâ€”even though Violet's is more fairy tale than
realistic.

SUMMARY

A wallflower in the spotlight can do one of two things:
wilt, or blossom...

Violet Greenfield's life
changes forever when a lady in giant Chanel shades tells her
she could be IT, the next Kate Moss-but taller, and without
the PR problems. That's how Violet winds up with a business
card in the front pocket of her jeans on her first day as a
senior in high school. Angela Blythe from Tryst Models in
New York City wants to put Violet on a plane and whisk her
into the world of high-heeled boots and oversized
sunglasses. Tall, skinny Violet, who's been P-L-A-I-N
practically forever.